America’s Veterans Are Becoming a Major Part of the Solar Workforce. Here’s Why.

Last Updated on: 28th May 2025, 01:58 am

For most service members, their time in military service is only one step in a larger career journey. Roughly one out of every twenty working Americans is a veteran, and too often, veterans find it difficult to transition into the civilian workforce and find a supportive employer that values their transferable skills and previous experience.

The Solar Ready Vets Network is helping bring America’s veterans into a sector where they can continue to positively impact their country and local communities.

Solar Ready Vets is a collection of initiatives designed to strengthen solar career pathways for veterans and support the industry’s efforts to invest in military talent. Funded by the U.S Department of Energy, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is working alongside the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), solar businesses, and other partners to develop resources that help the solar and storage industry recruit and retain veterans and the broader military-connected community.

Solar companies that work with Solar Ready Vets can utilize the initiatives that best fit their business model and offer veterans the best opportunities to succeed. In a recent webinar, several veterans and companies discussed how the model is driving lasting change for veterans and their families.

“I felt like my time of serving was cut short, so I was looking for just another avenue…to continue that service….So bringing [electricity] generation stateside…and increasing energy security…I feel like I’m continuing my service in the military.” — Landon Redmon, Project Developer, EDPR. 

There are many military traditions that can be carried over into civilian life. Among them is the awarding of coins as a token of recognition. Houston-based EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) adopted this tradition. The EDPR Veterans Challenge Coin is used to recognize the work of all employees working at the company, fostering pride and unity at the organization. The Coin is just one initiative of the company’s larger SynERGy Employee Resource Group (ERG) that gives veteran employees a specific community of shared culture and experience.

Clearway Energy 

“A big part of our job or our mission is to spread the word within the company of so many of these great programs and the ability to get amazing candidates to fill open positions” — Charlie Raiford, Senior Manager of Asset Management, Clearway.

When it comes to hiring veterans, New Jersey-based Clearway Energy takes an active recruiting approach through hiring from Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship Program. Hiring Our Heroes is a Solar Ready Vets Skillbridge program partner, under the United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation, that connects members of the military connected community to American businesses. Once brought on board at Clearway, veterans are paired with a mentor and a peer through the company’s veteran inclusion group.

Sunrun 

“Veterans and servicemembers possess technical skills, adaptability, and a mission-driven mindset, all of which make them a really great fit for the solar industry.” — Jordi Medina, Community Engagement Specialist 

At Sunrun, integrating SkillBridge training programs into its recruitment efforts helped broaden the pool of talented candidates and made it easier to bring in individuals with unique talents and experiences onto the team.

The company introduced a military-specific application process to streamline and expedite the hiring process for military applicants. Once hired, veterans have access to an employee resource group, and several veterans have quickly risen up the ranks at the company.

Hiring veterans should be one important part of the broader workforce development strategy for solar companies, which SEIA and IREC outlined in their workforce development toolkit.

SEIA is eager to continue its support of America’s heroes through Solar Ready Vets and helping veterans transition to meaningful, long-term careers that strengthen both their futures and the U.S. solar workforce.

Article courtesy of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).